What does this program do?
This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Who may apply?
This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include:
- Most state and local governmental entities
- Private nonprofits
- Federally-recognized tribes
What is an eligible area?
Areas that may be served include:
- Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses
- Tribal lands in rural areas
- Colonias
What kinds of funding are available?
- Long-term, low-interest loans
- If funds are available, a grant may be combined with a loan if necessary to keep user costs reasonable.
How may the funds be used?
Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of:
- Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
- Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
- Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
- Storm water collection, transmission and disposal
In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:
- Legal and engineering fees
- Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment
- Start-up operations and maintenance
- Interest incurred during construction
- Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service
- Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project
- See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list
What is the loan term and rate?
- Up to 40-year payback period, based on the useful life of the facilities financed
- Fixed interest rates, based on the need for the project and the median household income of the area to be served
Contact us for details and current interest rates applicable for your project
Are there additional requirements?
- Borrowers must have the legal authority to construct, operate and maintain the proposed services or facilities.
- All facilities receiving federal financing must be used for a public purpose.
- Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities that offer financial assistance are encouraged.
- Projects must be financially sustainable.
How do we get started?
- Applications are accepted year round and may be filed electronically using RD Apply. The RD Apply Customer Help Guide is provided to help you get started and work through the application process
- Applications are also accepted through your local RD office.
- Program resources are available online (i.e., forms, guidance, certifications, etc.).
Who can answer questions?
- Contact the local representative who serves your area
- Participating nonprofits in your area may also offer assistance and training
What governs this program?
- Basic Program – 7 CFR, Part 1780
- Loan Servicing – 7 CFR, Part 1782
- Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
Why does USDA Rural Development do this?
This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to locate or expand operations.
NOTE: Program details may change over time. Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by contacting a program specialist in your local RD office for assistance or consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?"
Contact
- We highly encourage you to contact your local area specialist who will assist you through the application process and help with other program-related requirements and questions. Please see the Contact tab for the appropriate office telephone number to contact.
RD Apply E-auth Steps
- Accessing RD Apply requires a Level 2 E-Authenication account. Applicants are encouraged to apply electronically through RDApply. RDApply is an application intake system that allows you to submit applications for loans and grants for Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Programs. With RDApply, you can create an application, upload attachments, sign certification, and draw service areas, to name a few features. Information about RDApply
- RDApply website
- Accessing RDApply requires a Level 2 E-Authenication account. Obtain an E-Authenication
Preliminary Engineering Report
- See the Other Requirements Tab for resource information and guidelines.
Environmental Assessment
- Environment Assessments are prepared by Engineer or Applicant Representative.
- Please contact your local area office to determine the level of environmental assessment required.
- Early submittal recommended.
- Funding cannot be determined until an environmental review is complete.
- See Other Requirements Tab for additional state environmental requirements.
NOTE: Please ensure that your state is selected in the dropdown menu above to find the state office contact information, and speak to a program specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you time in completing your application.
NOTE: Please ensure that your state is selected in the dropdown menu above to find the state office contact information, and speak to a program specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you time in completing your application.
Current interest rates for 1st quarter FY 2025, effective October 1, 2024.
| Poverty: | 2.375% |
| Intermediate: | 3.125% |
| Market: | 3.875% |
There are no other architect requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.
Iowa State-Specific Engineering Requirements:
- Iowa Supplement to PER -- Iowa Sample A-4 and Attachments
- Instructions to engineers/architects -- Iowa Sample A-5
- Right-of-way requirements -- Iowa Guide C-3
- Project Sign -- Iowa Sample D-4
- Project Sign CDBG -- Iowa Sample D-5
- Authorization to advertise for bids -- Iowa Guide D-6
- Preconstruction conference agenda -- Iowa Guide D-5
- Monthly construction conference agenda -- Iowa Guide E-1
Key WEP Engineering Resource Page
Individual states will have particular requirements based on state and local regulations. Please contact the local RD office in the state where your project is located.
Environmental Assessments
Air Quality
Project emissions, including those created by potential secondary beneficiaries, shall be examined for conformance to the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Iowa has two "non-attainment" areas. EPA lists all the nonattainment areas.
For questions contact Air Quality Helpline with Iowa DNR: (877) AIR-IOWA (247-4692).
If the proposal will emit large quantities of air pollutants, contact your Rural Development loan specialist and provide the information from Iowa DNR's Air Quality Section. Specialists will review the information to ascertain the level of environmental review required.
To determine emissions from other facilities in the project area, check the EPA website, then:
1. Click on "Air data", in the Facility Characteristics check the "other minor" box.
2. In the Geographic Location boxes click on region 7, State IOWA, and fill in county name, and search. Print out page for file.
Approved Coastal Zone Management Area
Iowa does not have any coastal zone management areas.
Coastal Barrier included in Coastal Barrier Resources System Natural Landmark
Iowa does not have any coastal barrier areas.
Natural Landmark
National Park Service website. Under “Find a Park,” click on Iowa to locate national monuments, national historic sites, and historic trails.
Place printout from the website in the file.
Prime Forest Lands
There are no national prime forest lands in Iowa.
Place a printout from the website in the file.
Prime Rangeland
Iowa does not have any prime range land areas.
Sole Source Aquifer Recharge Area
Iowa does not have any designated sole source aquifers as referenced here Sole Source Aquifers
Wild or Scenic Rivers
Iowa does not have any Wild and Scenic River as defined under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1271) as referenced at the National Park Service website.
The State of Iowa and the Nationwide Rivers Inventory have designated several areas as protected waterways.
Wilderness (designated or proposed under the Wilderness Act)
Iowa has no national wilderness areas.
You may access information national wilderness areas and related state areas at the following website:
The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Park Service are charged with stewardship of Wilderness Area lands while providing for appropriate human use and enjoyment. To find out more about these special places, see the site above, which is jointly managed by the University of Montana and the four federal agencies that manage wilderness areas. This is an interactive site where you may type in an address to determine if there is a wilderness area within the area of a proposed project.
• In the left column select “Maps, Data and Images” / select Maps / Under “Online Maps” in the first paragraph, select “GIS Maps” / top header of the website, Choose one of two options for your search.
• Zoom by Typing or Select a Wilderness.
• Find a Place / City / Road.
• Select “Go” which takes you to the area of interest – Along the bottom of the page is the color codes for “Wilderness Managed By ……………”
• Gear symbol in the top right hand corner allows you to save and / or print the map as a source document for the environmental report.
State wildlife management area
• Click on the appropriate county on the left-hand side of the screen.
There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.
Kate Sand
Community Programs Director in Iowa
Telephone: 515-284-4459
Kate.Sand@usda.gov
Area Office Contacts
Area 1 - Iowa Falls Area Office
840 Brooks Road
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
Phone: 641-648-5181 Ext. 4 Fax: 866-255-6573
Counties Served: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Mitchell, Tama and Worth
Area 2 - Waverly Area Office
1510 3rd Street, SW
Waverly, IA 50677
Phone: 319-352-1715 Ext. 4 Fax: 866-255-6573
Counties Served: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek
Area 3 - Tipton Area Office
127 West South Street
Tipton, IA 52772
Phone: 563-886-6006 Ext. 4 Fax: 866-255-6573
Counties Served: Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Scott
Area 4 - Mt. Pleasant Area Office
709 S. Iris Street, Suite 103
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
Phone: 319-986-5800 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2237
Counties Served: Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren, and Washington
Area 5 - Albia Area Office
1709 South "B" Street
Albia, IA 52531
Phone: 641-932-3031 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2237
Counties Served: Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, and Wayne
Area 6 - Indianola Area Office
909 East 2nd Avenue, Suite C
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: 515-961-5365 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2238
Counties Served: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Ringgold, Union, and Warren
Area 7 - Atlantic Area Office
511 West 7th Street
Atlantic, IA 50022
Phone: 712-243-2107 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2238
Counties Served: Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Taylor
Area 8 - Le Mars Area Office
1100 12th Street SW, Suite C
Le Mars, IA 51031
Phone: 712-546-5149 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2245
Counties Served: Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury
Area 9 - Storm Lake Area Office
1619 North Lake Avenue
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Phone: 712-732-1851 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2245
Counties Served: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Greene, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, and Sac
Area 10 - Humboldt Area Office
301 6th Avenue North, Suite 1
Humboldt, IA 50548
Phone: 515-332-4411 Ext. 4 Fax: 855-251-2245
Counties Served: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Story, Webster, Winnebago, and Wright
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